HOOVER, Ala. — A routine night at a community pool turned into a homicide investigation after a 70-year-old woman was found unresponsive in the water on September 3.
Hoover police said officers were called to a community pool in the 2200 block of Little Valley Road at about 9:32 p.m. after someone reported finding an unresponsive person floating in the water.
First responders immediately attempted lifesaving measures at the scene. Despite their efforts, the woman could not be revived and was pronounced dead.
Police have not yet released her name, saying they are waiting until her family can be notified. What initially appeared to be a possible drowning soon took a much darker turn.
Police Discover Signs of Physical Struggle
After detectives arrived and began examining the scene, investigators found evidence that led them to believe the woman’s death was not accidental.
According to the Hoover Police Department, detectives located a person of interest near the area and determined that she was an acquaintance of the victim.
Investigators said evidence recovered at the scene indicated that the two women had been involved in a physical altercation shortly before the victim died.
“The evidence showed a physical struggle occurred just before the victim’s death, which is being investigated as a homicide,” police said in a news release.
The discovery changed the nature of the investigation, prompting detectives to work with prosecutors to determine whether criminal charges should be filed.
30-Year-Old Woman Arrested in Homicide Case
The investigation eventually focused on 30-year-old Anastasia Tsefia Sudarsana.
Police presented the evidence they had gathered to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office in Birmingham. Following that review, authorities obtained an arrest warrant for Sudarsana.
She was subsequently taken into custody and charged with one count of murder. Sudarsana was transferred to the Jefferson County Jail on Friday, where authorities said she is being held without bond.
Police have not publicly disclosed what allegedly led to the confrontation between Sudarsana and the elderly woman. At this stage, investigators have also not revealed a possible motive for the alleged killing.
Cause of Death Still Awaited
Although police have classified the death as a homicide investigation, the official medical findings have not yet been released.
The Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to determine the official cause and manner of death after completing its investigation.
That information could provide investigators with additional details about what happened in the moments before the woman died.
Authorities have not said whether the victim suffered injuries during the reported physical struggle or provided additional details about how she ended up in the pool.
The investigation remains active as detectives continue working to establish the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.
Sudarsana Previously Featured in Ukraine Escape Report
Sudarsana had previously appeared in a 2022 report by Birmingham ABC affiliate WBMA concerning her family’s escape from Ukraine following the invasion by Russian troops.
Her previous appearance in the news has now resurfaced following her arrest in the Alabama homicide case.
However, authorities have not indicated that her family’s history or the events described in that earlier report have any connection to the current investigation.
For now, police are focused on determining exactly what happened at the Hoover community pool and what led to the fatal confrontation.
The victim’s identity remains withheld pending notification of her family, while Sudarsana remains in custody as the legal process moves forward.
What do you think about this disturbing Alabama case? Share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for updates as investigators release more information.
